KLOPP WAR WITH BLUES ON WERNER

LIVERPOOL and Chelsea are going head-to-head in a £60million battle to sign RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner.

Chelsea have already opened negotiations for the German international, who has struck 20 goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances so far this season.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is a long-time admirer of the 23-year-old goal-machine and was keeping his powder dry for the summer before making any bids for the player.

But Chelsea’s move in the January window, following the lifting of their FIFA transfer ban, has triggered immediate interest at Anfield.

Werner has already expressed a desire to play in the Premier League, although it is still likely that RB Leipzig, who have a great chance of ending the season as Bundesliga champions, will attempt to keep Werner until the summer.

The striker, who has been capped 29 times for his country, is seen as a main component of Leipzig’s attempt to keep at bay big title rivals like Bayern Munich.

Klopp also wants Roma target Xherdan Shaqiri (left) to remain at Anfield until the end of the season.

The Italians want the Swiss international initially on loan, with the prospect of a permanent deal. Shaqiri is interested in switching to Serie A after seeing his first-team appearances restricted, following last summer’s move from Stoke City.

Klopp though does not want to lose any of his first-team squad as the club move in on their first title since 1990. He will ask Shaqiri to stay put until the summer when his future will then be up for discussion.

Age 23 Position Striker Clubs 2013-16 Stuttgart (103 apps, 14 goals); since 2016 RB Leipzig (140 apps, 86 goals) International

Germany (29 apps, 11 goals)